Abstract: The present application discloses an aircraft configured for vertical take-off and landing and horizontal flight. The aircraft includes a valve configured to control the permitting or restricting of a release of gas from different regions of a fuel tank when the aircraft is in a vertical take-off and landing orientation and when the aircraft is in a horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having wings stowed against a fuselage of the UAV in a first arrangement is disclosed. Methods and systems for deploying the wings into a second arrangement are disclosed. For example, after a launch of the UAV, the UAV monitors for at least one precondition. The at least one pre-condition being a pre-condition associated with deploying wings of the UAV into the second arrangement. Upon detecting the at least one precondition, the wings of the UAV are deployed into a second arrangement. Deploying the wings comprises activating, in response to detecting the at least one precondition associated with the UAV, a gearbox configured to transition the wings from the first arrangement to the second arrangement. Roll control may be maintained throughout launch and deployment.

Abstract: The present application discloses an aircraft configured for vertical take-off and landing and horizontal flight. The aircraft includes (i) a first nacelle fuel tank configured to hold a first fuel supply for a first engine and to selectively provide fuel to the first engine during both (a) a vertical take-off and landing, and (b) horizontal flight; (ii) a fuselage fuel tank, and (iii) a control system configured to redistribute fuel between the first nacelle fuel tank and the fuselage fuel tank.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping assets is disclosed. The system includes one or more processors configured to: receive, via the communication interface, data associated with one or more tasks to be performed by a set of assets, determine, from among a plurality of assets, the set of assets to perform the one or more tasks, including determining one or more capabilities associated with one or more characteristics of the one or more tasks, and determining the plurality of drones based at least in part on the one or more capabilities associated with one or more characteristics of the one or more tasks, and one or more drone capabilities respectively associated with the drones, and communicate an instruction to at least one drone in the set of assets, the instruction indicating that the one or more tasks are to be completed by the at least one drone.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of assembling or disassembling an aircraft. The assembly method includes a mounting a first engine nacelle to a first wing, mounting a second engine nacelle to a second wing, causing the first wing to be extended relative to a center wing, and causing the second wing to be extended relative to the center wing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a payload deployment system that is operative to receive and retain a configurable payload. The payload deployment mechanism helps to reduce the drag of the payload and to protect the payload from environmental factors. The payload may be released using a hinge mechanism to ensure the payload does not contact the payload deployment mechanism when the payload is deployed. A vent may be utilized to equalize pressure between the external environment and a body portion of the payload deployment mechanism. The vent may generate an additional force to assist in separating the payload from the launcher.

Abstract: A system includes two or more clamp jaws. The two or more clamp jaws are configured to lock around the object in response to the object being pressed against the inner profile of the clamp jaw. The two or more clamp jaws unlock by moving a wedge lock key from a locking position. The wedge lock key prevents the two or more clamp jaws from moving in response to the wedge lock key being in the locking position.

Abstract: A computational pixel imaging device that includes an array of pixel integrated circuits for event-based detection and imaging. Each pixel may include a digital counter that accumulates a digital number, which indicates whether a change is detected by the pixel. The counter may count in one direction for a portion of an exposure and count in an opposite direction for another portion of the exposure. The imaging device may be configured to collect and transmit key frames at a lower rate, and collect and transmit delta or event frames at a higher rate. The key frames may include a full image of a scene, captured by the pixel array. The delta frames may include sparse data, captured by pixels that have detected meaningful changes in received light intensity. High speed, low transmission bandwidth motion image video can be reconstructed using the key frames and the delta frames.

Abstract: The present application discloses an aircraft. The aircraft comprises a first wing and a second wing, a fuselage to which the first wing and the second wing are mounted, a first engine operatively mounted to the first wing, and a second engine operatively mounted to the second wing. The aircraft is configured to vertically take-off and land. The first engine and the second engine are used for both (i) vertical take-off and landing, and (ii) horizontal flight.

Abstract: A system for generating an environment for an operation using a set of assets includes processor(s) configured to obtain data associated with task(s) to be performed by a set of assets, wherein: 1) the set of assets comprises semi-autonomous drones and 2) the data associated with the task(s) comprises other drone flight plan(s); determine a discretized representation of the geographic location, wherein the discretized representation comprises discrete elements each corresponding to a volume associated with the geographic location; annotate the discretized representation with the other drone flight plan(s) to create an annotated representation; determine a first flight plan of one drone, wherein the first flight plan is determined based on the annotated representation; and communicate information pertaining to the first flight plan to at least one other asset.

Abstract: The system comprises a plurality of sensor systems, a counter drone, and a processor. A sensor system of the plurality of sensor systems comprises one or more sensors that are connected to a network. The counter drone is connected to the network. The processor is configured to receive an indication of a potential target from the plurality of sensor systems; generate a fused data set for the potential target, determine whether the potential target comprises the threat drone based at least in part on the fused data set; and in response to determining that the potential target comprises the threat drone, provide counter drone instructions to the counter drone.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides rolling release launching system that is operative to receive and retain a drone or other payload in a protected launcher. The launcher helps to reduce the drag of the payload and to protect the payload from environmental factors. The payload is launched when a rotating door opens to expose the payload in a bay area. The rotating door may be parallel or concentric to a longitudinal axis of the body portion of the device. The payload may be launched using a biasing and fastening mechanism, which may include detachably coupling bracket, to induce an angular moment and releasing force on the payload during launch.

Abstract: A system for automatically maintaining focus while tracking remote flying objects includes an interface and processor. The interface is configured to receive two or more images. The processor is configured to determine a bounding box for an object in the two or more images; determine an estimated position for the object in a future image; and determine an estimated focus setting and an estimated pointing direction for a lens system.

Abstract: A modular, radio frequency (“RF”) system includes one or more directional antennas and is configured with both hardware and software components to enable the RF system to monitor (e.g., detect or track signals or objects) and/or interact with (e.g., track signals or objects, or transmit signals) objects in particular directions. The RF system includes one or more machine learning models to determine, based on received signals, one or more signals to transmit.

Abstract: A system for planning an operation includes a communication interface and processor(s). The processor(s) is/are configured to: receive an indication that the drone is part of a set of assets, wherein the set of assets are tasked with performing element(s) of task(s), and the set of assets comprises a plurality of drones; communicate information pertaining to the element(s), wherein: 1) the information pertaining to the element(s) is communicated with at least one other drone; 2) the information pertaining to the element(s) is based at least in part on information obtained by sensor(s) of the set of assets; and 3) the information pertaining to the element(s) is used in connection with determining a plan to perform the task(s); and communicate information pertaining to the plan to perform the task(s), wherein the information pertaining to the plan to perform the task(s) is communicated with at least one other drone.

Abstract: A device includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has a radial face including a first set of curved structures. The outer cylinder has an axial face including a second set of curved structures. A coupling is formed in response to a section of the outer cylinder disposed to surround a portion of the inner cylinder and the first set of curved structures of the inner cylinder disposed to interlock with the second set of curved structures of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A system generating an environment for an operation using a set of assets includes processor(s) configured to: obtain data associated with task(s) to be performed by a set of assets, wherein: 1) the set of assets comprises semi-autonomous drones and 2) the data associated with the task(s) comprises parameter(s) pertaining to a geographic location in which at least one asset is to perform the task(s); determine a discretized representation of the geographic location, wherein the discretized representation comprises discrete elements each corresponding to a volume associated with the geographic location; annotate the discretized representation to create an annotated representation with the parameter(s) pertaining to the geographic location with a subset of the discrete elements based on a determination that the parameter(s) pertain to the geographic location; determine a plan to perform the task(s), wherein the plan is based on the annotated representation; and cause the task(s) to be performed.

Abstract: The present application discloses an aircraft. The present application discloses a method of assembling or disassembling an aircraft. The assembly method includes mounting a first engine nacelle to a first wing, mounting a second engine nacelle to a second wing, causing the first wing to be extended relative to a fuselage mount, causing the second wing to be extended relative to the fuselage mount, and mounting the fuselage to the fuselage mount.

Abstract: An unmanned helicopter platform includes a fuselage, a tail coupled with the fuselage, a payload rail coupled with and extending along the fuselage and a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage. The tail includes a tail rotor and a tail rotor motor. The tail is removably coupled to the fuselage. The main rotor assembly includes a main rotor having an axis of rotation and a main rotor motor.

Abstract: A system comprises an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to provide a request to join a publish group from a client or a point to point communication link of a lattice mesh; and receive a group key or a host public key. The processor is configured to determine whether a message has been received; in response to the message having been received, determine whether the message is to be sent on; in response to the message being determined not to be sent on, decode the message using the group key or the host public key; determine whether to store the message in a backfill database; in response to determining to store the message in the backfill database, store the message in the backfill database.